Make the most of your USB drive

The most powerful password-management software we've come across is RoboForm Portable. Also known as Pass2Go, the app is available as a full-featured 30-day trial.

Select USB: Portable RF to go to the download page, then double-click the installer. Attach and select the flash drive you'll be using to store your information, then pick a master password. Use something you can remember, but make it complex, with a combination of letters--uppercase and lowercase--and numbers. Though everything is encrypted, this master password is the only barrier between your information and anyone who gains possession of the drive. For a little insurance, we used Dekart Private Disk, a program that adds an extra layer of password-protected encryption to USB flash drives.

After installation, all that's left is to start plugging in your information. With your drive connected, launch Internet Explorer (plug-ins are available for Netscape and Mozilla Firefox, too), and the Pass2Go toolbar will appear. If it doesn't, go to View > Toolbars, and select RoboForm Toolbar. Either manually input your login information into Pass2Go or just visit a site. When you log in to a site, the app will ask if you want to store the information. The next time you visit the site, select it from the toolbar's drop-down menu--RoboForm takes over, going to the site and logging on.

Tired of filling out Web forms? Pass2Go does that, too, as well as saving your browser's Favorites list. If that's not enough, it has a powerful built-in Web-search bar. When you're ready to go, just eject the flash drive--no trace of your personal information is left behind.